sun shining bright
burning from the
inside-out
walking through grass
cut dry and sharp
walking, walking
feet patter in the
cool, muddy water
pebbles scrape
the bottoms of
my tired feet
water rushes
a fast moving current
close my eyes
take a deep breath
I'm shaking, but not
from the cool burn
of the bubbly water
I take my blade in
my callused hands
the edges rusty from
years of use
dried blood dots the handle
but I'm not holding
it to cut
no not today
not ever again
caress the blade
just one more time
I squint my eyes
against the bright
a force inside of me
moves my hand
and the blade flies, soars
through the still air
a splash as it hits
the shallow stream
a watery grave
for my rusty blade
I killed it
before it killed me
I lose sight of the metal
as it rushes farther down
for the first time
I breathe